Cheesy Pizza Pasta Bake

Absolutely! Here’s a comforting, cheesy pizza pasta bake—all the flavors of pizza in a creamy, cheesy, baked pasta dish.

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Cheesy Pizza Pasta Bake

Servings: 6–8
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 25–30 min

Ingredients:

For the pasta:

• 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, rotini, or shells)
• Salt for boiling water

For the sauce:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced (optional)
• 1 jar (24 oz / 680 g) pizza sauce or marinara sauce
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the cheese:

• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• Optional: 1/2 cup shredded cheddar for extra cheesiness

Optional toppings:

• Pepperoni slices, cooked sausage, olives, or fresh basil

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Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta:

1. Boil pasta in salted water until just al dente (it will bake in the oven).
2. Drain and set aside.

2. Prepare the sauce and veggies:

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Sauté onion, garlic, bell pepper, and mushrooms until soft, about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer 2–3 minutes.

3. Combine pasta and sauce:

1. In a large bowl, mix cooked pasta with sauce and half of the mozzarella and Parmesan.
2. Add optional toppings (pepperoni, sausage, etc.) if desired.

4. Bake:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Transfer pasta mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
3. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
4. Bake 15–20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

5. Serve:

• Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
• Garnish with fresh basil or parsley for color.

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💡 Tips for the best pizza pasta bake:

• Use slightly undercooked pasta so it doesn’t get mushy after baking.
• For extra flavor, mix in Italian sausage or cooked chicken.
• Add a little ricotta or cream cheese to the pasta mixture for extra creaminess.

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If you want, I can also make a “one-pot, no-bake pizza pasta” version that cooks entirely on the stovetop for a quicker, mess-free weeknight dinner.

Do you want me to do that?